Single cylinder assembly for gas systems



NOV. 14, 1939. GERQW AL 2.179.886

SINGLE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY FOR GAS SYSTEMS Original Filed April 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l A iiorneys NOV. 14, 1939. J R GEROW AL 2.179.886

SINGLE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY FOR GAS SYSTEMS Original Filed April 30, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In veniors A itomeys Patented Nov. 14, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SINGLE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY FOR GAS SYSTEMS Joshua. R. Gerow and Charles M. Francisco, Liberty, N. Y.

Application April 30, 1938, Serial No. 205,345 Renewed August 31, 1939 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a single cylinder assembly for gas systems and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will steady a gas supply cylinder on its rest or support and provides a detachable connection between the cylinder or its gas pressure regulating valve and the service main of a dwelling.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means whereby the replacement of the cylinder with another fully charged with gas may be accomplished without any interruption to the supply of gas to the service main.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a protection cover for the pressure regulating valve and its connection to the gas supply cylinder and which further protects the connection between the pressure regulating valve and the means acting to connect said valve to the service main and prevent unauthorized tampering with these parts, the cover being locked in protecting position against unauthorized removal.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, illustrating a single cylinder assembly for gas systems and showing connected thereto an auxiliary gas supply cylinder and its regulator.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the device.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the latch for securing the cover in protecting position.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a combined bracket and conduit for connecting the pressure regulator valve of the gas cylinder to a service main.

The present invention as shown in the official drawings and which will be hereinafter fully described in detail is for rural gas systems of dwelings and the like wherein each dwelling has its own service main which is supplied with gas from a supply cylinder. This supply cylinder is renewed when exhausted and normally rests on a suitable foundation (not shown) located adjacent the dwelling, the latter being indicated by the character 8, while the gas supply cylinder is shown at 9 and has detachably connected thereto a gas pressure regulating valve ID of a standard or conventional construction, the outlet end ll thereof being connected onto the outlet nipple l2 of the supply cylinder 9 by a pipe I3. Detachable fittings are provided between the pipe l3 and the regulator valve Ill and the gas supply cylinder. These fittings are of a standard or well known construction. The outlet or low pressure side of the gas regulating valve is indicated by the character 14 and is of a construction for detachable connection with a combined steadying bracket and conduit l5 forming a part ofthe present invention.

The combined bracket and conduit I5 consists of an attaching plate l6 apertured, as shown at H, to receive fasteners for securing the plate 16 on the side of the dwelling 8. Formed integrally with the front face of the plate l6 and extending at right angles thereto and disposed in a horizontal plane is an arm l8 having a bore or passage l9 opening outwardly through the free end thereof and also opening outwardly adjacent the front face of the plate 16 and is internally screw threaded to receive a fitting 20 of a conventional. construction employed for connecting the passage l9 to the service main 2| of the dwelling 8. The other end of the passage l9 of the arm I8 is internally screw threaded to have threaded connection with the outlet or low pressure side Id of the pressure regulating valve I 0. Thus it will be seen that the service main 2| of the dwelling is connected to the pressure regulating valve 10 through the medium of the arm I8. The arm [8 being regidly mounted on the dwelling will, through the gas regulator valve Ill and its connection to the gas supply cylinder 9, tend to steady the latter on its rest or support (not shown).

An offset 22 is formed on the arm l8 and has a passage 23 extending therethrough, one end of said passage communicating with the passage l9 of the arm Hi. The free end of the offset 22 has connected thereto a control valve 24, the latter having a fitting 25 capable of having applied thereto one end of a flexible pipe or hose 26. The other end of the hose or pipe 26 is connected to the outlet or low pressure side of a reducing valve 21 also of a standard make. The valve 2'! is detachably connected onto an outlet of an auxiliary gas supply cylinder 28 through the use of a pipe 29 and fittings 30 and 3E. The auxiliary cylinder 28 is much smaller that the cylinder 9 and can be easily handled. The pressure regulator 2'! of the auxiliary cylinder is preferably smallerv than the regulator va..ve iii of the cylinder 9. However, the output of gas from the regulator valve 27 is slightly higher in pressure than the output of gas from the regulator valve I0.

Under normal operation, the valve 24 is closed and the pipe 26 and auxiliary cylinder 28 are not in use and are only brought in use by the service man when renewing the cylinder 9 by a recharged cylinder of the same construction. When the change-over is being made the valve 26 is connected to the hose 26 and moved into an open position so that the service main will receive gas from the auxiliary cylinder 28, thereby preventing any interruption of gas supply to the service main during the change-over of cylinders 9. It is to be understood that the service man brings the auxiliary cylinder 28 charged with gas when arriving at the dwelling for the purpose of making a change of the cylinder 9 that is in use for another which is fully charged with gas. Due to the output of gas from the regulator valve 27 being of an increased amount over the output of gas by the regulator valve Ill, the pressure of gas from the regulator valve 21 acting on the low side of the regulator valve it] brings about closing of the same so that gas will not escape from the regulator valve l9 when the latter is detached from the cylinder 9.

A protecting cover 30 of substantially cylindrical shape has one end closed by a wall 3| while the opposite end is fully open to fit over the upper end of the cylinder 9, thereby enclosing in the cover the regulating valve I and its connection with the cylinder 9 as well as the connection to the arm IS. The annular wall of the cover 30 has a slot 32 opening outwardly through the open end of the cover so that when placing the cover on the cylinder 9 the slot will receive therein the arm I8, the latter having a lug 33 which fits against an inner wall of the cover to prevent shifting of the cover endwise of the arm away from the dwelling. The cover will prevent the parts confined therein from being tampered with by an unauthorized person and also protect such parts from weather elements and further being held on the arm will have a tendency to steady the cylinder 9 on its support or base.

Apertured ears 35 are formed on the cover and located at opposite sides of the slot 32. The apertures in the ears are arranged in pairs, one pair of said apertures receiving a fastener 36 in the form of a bolt and nut. The fastener 36 underlies the arm l8, consequently preventing the cover from being raised off of said arm and the cylinder 9. Further to secure the cover against unauthorized removal a padlock 31 or some other similar locking means may extend through the other pair of apertures, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The cover adjacent its open end is provided with an internal bead 38 shaped to conform to and rest on the dome-shaped upper end of the cylinder 9 and with the cover below said bead frictionally engaging the walls of the cylinder 9 will be prevented from becoming accidentally displaced from the cylinder 9.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the construction and advantages of the present invention to those skilled in the art to which such a device relates so that further description will not be required.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is:

l. A single cylinder assembly for domestic gas systems of dwellings including a gas supply cylinder having a pressure regulator valve connected thereto and a service main of a dwelling, means rigidly mounted and having the lower pressure side of the regulator valve and the service main coupled thereto for establishing a gaseous communication between said cylinder and the service main, and means on said first-means whereby an auxiliary gas supply cylinder may be temporarily connected thereto for furnishing gas to said service main during the removal of the firstnamed gas supply cylinder from the pressure regulator valve.

2. A single cylinder assembly for domestic gas systems of dwellings including a gas supply cylinder having a pressure regulator valve connected thereto and a service main of a dwelling, a bracket mounted on the dwelling and including an arm having a bore coupled to said service main and to the low pressure side of the gas regulator valve, an offset formed on said arm and having a passage in communication with the passage of the arm, a valve connected to the offset and including means for detachably connecting thereto temporarily an auxiliary gas supply cylinder whereby gas may be fed to the service main when the first-named cylinder is disconnected from the regulator valve.

3. A single cylinder assembly for gas systems including a gas supply cylinder having a pressure regulator valve connected thereto and a service main of a dwelling, a bracket mounted on the dwelling and including an arm having a bore coupled to said service main and to the low pressure side of the gas regulator valve, an offset formed on said arm and having a passage in communication with the passage of the arm, a valve connected to the offset and including means for detachably connecting thereto an auxiliary gas supply cylinder whereby gas may be fed to the service main when the first-named cylinder is disconnected from the regulator valve, a cover open at one end to receive the upper end of the first-named cylinder and having a slot to permit the arm to extend therethrough, and a securing means on said cover and underlying the arm to prevent removal of the cover from the first-named cylinder.

4. A single cylinder assembly for gas systems including a gas supply cylinder having a pressure regulator valve connected thereto and a service main of a dwelling, a bracket mounted on the dwelling and including an arm having a bore coupled to said service main and to the low pressure side of the gas regulator valve, an offset formed on said arm and having a passage in communication with the passage of the arm, a valve connected to the offset and including means for detachably connecting thereto an auxiliary gas supply cylinder whereby gas may be fed to the service main when the first-named cylinder is disconnected from the regulator valve, a cover open at one end to receive the upper end of the first-named cylinder and having a slot to permit the arm to extend therethrough, a securing means on said cover and underlying the arm to prevent removal of the cover from the first-named cylinder, 2. lug formed on said arm and abutting the cover adjacent the slot to limit the movement of the cover on the arm in one direction.

5. A single cylinder assembly for domestic gas systems of dwellings including a gas supply cylinder having a pressure regulator valve connected thereto and a service main of a dwelling, a bracket secured on the dwelling and including an arm having a passage, means for 'detachably connecting the arm and its passage to the low pressure side of the regulator valve, means for connecting the passage of said arm to the service main, an offset formed on said arm and havinga passage in communication with the first-named passage, a valve carried by the offset for controlfrom the auxiliary cylinder maintained to the 10 service main.

JOSHUA R. GEROW. CHARLES M. FRANCISCO. 

